Legion 4 | 18 Aug 2018 7:42 a.m. PST |
I went to a D-Day reenactment in Conneaut, OH yesterday along Lake Erie. It is still going on today. It's about an hour and 1/2 from where I live. They do it every year now. They had some great reentactors, weapons, etc., there. The 101, 82, 1ID, 29ID, RANGERS, and US Armor there. As well as French, Brits and Canadians. And of course the Germans including some armor real and some very well done "vis-mods". Even women were dressed in period clothing, hair, make up, etc. Was like being on a movie set ! There were 3 3/4 scale P-51s strafing the beach too. The Allies had : M5 M4 w/75 M4 w/105 "Jumbo" M36 M18 M7 Priest M15 AA 1/2 Track 2 M3 1/2 Tracks, 1 was towing a 105 Howitzer LVT DUKW 3 LCMs
Germans: 88mm AA/AT gun w/FMW Truck 2 SDKFZ 222 AC Pz. 1 with 20mm, IIRC those were modified by the Spanish during the SCW(?) Pz III L vis-mod based on UK FV432 APC Pz III with long 75 IIRC that was only on the drawing board at the end of the war(?) Vis-mod on FV432 37mm AT gun Captured Russian 76mm AT gun 3 BMW M/Cycles Horch (?)Staff Car Plus many small arms : M1s M1 Carbines' M2 .50s .30 Cal MGs both air & water cooled 81 & 60mm Mortars Thompsons Brens SMLEs Stens Vickers MGs Mausers MP40s, MG 34s & 42s .45s Webleys Lugars Etc. etc.
Was pretty good and a lot of fun ! Would recommend it !
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StoneMtnMinis | 18 Aug 2018 9:02 a.m. PST |
Unfortunately, too far for a day trip from Colorado. But, thanks for posting this as many TMPer's do probably live within driving distance and it sounds like it would be well worth the trip. Dave |
miniMo | 18 Aug 2018 9:04 a.m. PST |
Hope they drive those Nazis back to Illinois!
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Cerdic | 18 Aug 2018 9:12 a.m. PST |
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45thdiv | 18 Aug 2018 9:47 a.m. PST |
I wish there were some pictures. |
14Bore | 18 Aug 2018 11:37 a.m. PST |
Colorado? Even to far from the opposite corner of Pennsylvania. Pictures would be next best thing. Will search YouTube. |
14Bore | 18 Aug 2018 12:00 p.m. PST |
youtu.be/Fb9yZaBTgRA I think from last year, but a search will show up other years. This looks like a good weekend trip |
Legion 4 | 18 Aug 2018 1:31 p.m. PST |
Yes, they will post pics/YouTube etc., of this years D-Day, later this month or so IIRC. The event is still going on as we speak. I/we was very fortunate. Our local Vet Services organization gave us donuts before we got on the buses. A bagged lunch, juice, water, a commemorative T-shirt, plus a Vet Services carrying bag. Drove us up and back … For Free ! Hope they drive those Nazis back to Illinois! Well one side of a big sign on the site said France … and the other side England. So … But at one point the Germans overran a Marquis ambush. Then before the landings the 101, 82d, RANGERs, etc., had a number of small firefights and skirmishes off and on all day around the area ! However, I did see a number of French and US females in 1940's garb walking and talking to Germans ! SS, Falschirmjagers, Wehrmacht, etc., etc. The 88mm and truck had 1st SS insignia stenciled on them ! But one of the local mom & pop eateries had a sign that said "Germans Welcome". |
Old Wolfman | 18 Aug 2018 1:40 p.m. PST |
Read about it a while back. |
ScottWashburn | 19 Aug 2018 4:28 a.m. PST |
I've been thinking about attending this for a while (with my WWII group), but haven't made it. Looks like fun. Although I'm wondering about those loads of troops arriving on the DUKWs. They don't appear to be wearing life jackets. Not sure I'd want to go on one of those with a full load of equipment and no life jacket! |
Legion 4 | 19 Aug 2018 7:53 a.m. PST |
Well they landed Friday in LCMs, but I couldn't see if they had life vests on. I did see a DUKW transport some troops on land to the beach though. Pretty sure they didn't need life jackets. |
14Bore | 19 Aug 2018 8:26 a.m. PST |
Would be truly awesome to have a Higgins boat. |
Legion 4 | 19 Aug 2018 8:39 a.m. PST |
The were 3 there operational and landed on the beach. But one did get stuck and the LVT had to help her out. Of course no LVTs landed at D-Day. But were used later in the ETO, on river crossings, etc. And one LCM was on display on a flatbed trailer. But didn't look very seaworthy. A few years back they had an M29 Weasel that rode thru the waves and landed on the beach too. But AFAIK none were at Normandy. However, like the LVT, still interesting additions to the event. |
Tommy20 | 19 Aug 2018 8:40 a.m. PST |
Those Higgins boats looked like, what was term above, vis-mods? They look pretty good, though. Wonder what they were converted from? And I'd love to see photos of the panzers if anyone can direct me. |
Legion 4 | 19 Aug 2018 9:07 a.m. PST |
Don't know for sure if the Higgens were Vis-mods. But they looked about right to me. I road on the updated/modern version in Panama and Little Creek NAB, Norfolk, VA. Many years ago when on active duty. The new pics/videos of the AFVs and everything else will be posted as I was told in a few weeks or so. As I said the 2 German PzIIIs were "Vis-mods". And one year there was a STuG III or IV there too. Again a "Vis-mod". All the US Armor were the "real deal", not Vis-Mods". The event ended yesterday, IIRC. But they said they would post everything on the net. |
BW1959 | 19 Aug 2018 2:25 p.m. PST |
I missed going this year, but made the last two. Great event. Last year theyhad a StugIII (if I remembevr correctly) that was a conversion from an A PC as I recall. Also had M18's, M4 Sherman , and a M3 Stuart all original |
Legion 4 | 19 Aug 2018 2:34 p.m. PST |
Yes, I saw I pic of the StuG, it was on the UK FV423 Chassis, like both the Pz.IIIs were this year. Looked great ! |
saltflats1929 | 19 Aug 2018 9:09 p.m. PST |
I thought Canada was invading. "Red Maple Dawn". |
Legion 4 | 20 Aug 2018 8:14 a.m. PST |
There was some Canadian units there ! They hit the beach along with some UK "reenactors" Friday afternoon. And were supported by the US Armor that was there. And the mini P-51s … As well as the French partisans ambushed a German patrol earlier that day ! |
andygamer | 26 Aug 2018 1:29 p.m. PST |
So, is there going to be a Sacket's Harbor re-enactment in Normandy? Just wondering. |
Legion 4 | 26 Aug 2018 5:21 p.m. PST |
Not AFAIK … |